The father of American musical comedy, George Michael Cohan was born on July 3, 1878, in Providence, Rhode Island. The son of traveling Vaudeville performers, Cohan joined his parents on stage when he was just a baby. Cohan learned to dance and sing shortly after learning to walk and talk. Along with his parents and sister, the family toured under the name The Four Cohans, with George writing skits and songs in his teens.
On June 30, 1899, the American military government issued its first stamps in the Philippines. Spanish colonization of the Philippines began in 1565 and continued for more than three centuries. In the late 1800s, the people of the Philippines revolted against the atrocities of their Spanish rulers. At the same time, unrest was growing in the Spanish colony of Cuba.
On June 25, 1876, Civil War hero George A. Custer died at the Battle of Little Bighorn.
On June 4, 1944, Allied troops entered Rome, Italy, freeing it from German control.
Comedian William Claude Dukenfield (better known as W. C. Fields) was born on January 29, 1880, in Darby, Pennsylvania.
On December 26, 1972, America’s 33rd president, Harry S. Truman, died.
On December 18, 1918, war-torn and recently independent Latvia issued its first stamps, printed on the back of German military maps.
On December 12, 1787, Pennsylvania was the second state to ratify the Constitution and be admitted to the Union.
On September 15, 1916, the first tanks were used in the World War I Battle of the Somme.